Clasp.



' J. F. DIA'NIELS.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2. 1914.

Pqtented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1. F. DANIELS. 011s .APPLICATION FILED APRJ, I914.

1,147,147, 7 mm July 20,1915,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- JOHN DANIELS, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHDlJE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I I RALPH M. WHITMAN, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

GLASI.

Specification of Letters Patent. lPatentad J 11137 2% 19115,

Application filed April 2, 19K. Serial No. 828,991.

gripping jaws, thenovel and improved construction of the interlocking devices for locking and unlocking the jaws, and the novel and improved pivotal connection between the jaws. These and other features of the invention will hereinafter be fully described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings .which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a front view of a clasp containing the invention showin the parts in closed or clasped position; Fig. 2 is a side view of said clasp with the parts in the same position, showingthe suspension buckle in sec tion; Fig. 3 is a rear view of said clasp with the parts in the'saine position; Fig. 1

is a longitudinal, central section of said clasp with the parts in the same position; Fig. 5 is a front view of said clasp showing the gripping jaws in unlocked position; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal; central section of said clasp with the parts in unlocked position; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of said clasp showing the front side of the clasp with the parts inunclasped and open position; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of said clasp showing the rear side of theclasp with the parts in unclasped and open position; Fig. 9 is an end view of said clasp; Fig. 10 is an elevation of the inner or gripping surface of one of the jaw members; Fig. 11 is an elevation of the outer or rear side of the other jaw member; Fig. 12 is a front View of the shank member for supporting and looking the jaw members; Fig. 13 is asection on line 13-13 of Fig. 1; Fig. 14 is a section on line i l-14. of Fig. 3-; Fig. 15 is a section on line 15-15 of Fig. 11; Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the preferred form of corrugations on the gripping surfaces of the jaw members; and Fig.

17 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing a sectional view of the opposed gripping surfaces of the jaws.

Referring to the drawings, a is the gripping jaw of one of the two relatively movable jaw members, and Z; is the gripping jaw of the other member. Each jaw memher is preferably made substantially in the form of a T. the gripping jaws a and b constituting the cross bars of the l, and the Steins a and b constituting the stems of the T. Each gripping jaw is thus laterally elongated so as to afford a broad gripping area much less. likely to tear or injure the fabric-clasped between said jaws than with clasps where the whole strain is concentrated ata single point or within a small area. f-

Said elongated gripping jaws are also preferably a little curved to conform to the curve of the thigh when the olasps are used on garters; and in order that a strong gripping action will he exerted throughout the whole length ottlic jaws, and the fabric heldfirmly at the ends of the jaws as well as at their center. it is desirable that ;'the gripping surface or one of thejaws,-as the jaw 01, be curved a little more than the other (see Fig. 9) so that the lateral ends of the jaws will engage a little before their middle parts when the jaws are closed together.

The jaw members. being made of sligm';lf-; re-

silient sheet metal, will then yield to allow the middle parts to come together, affording a firm gripping action throughout their whole length. The gripping surfaces of'the jaws are preferably corrugated, and the form of corrugations shown in Figs. 16 and 17, consisting of a series 'ot'trun'cated pyraacids, is admirably adapted to 'produce ia good holding surface without danger Said blunted py' ramidal corrugations will crowd between t 1e damaging the fabric.

threads of the fabric and firmly grip the fabric without cutting or tearing the threads.

The jaws a and b are pivoted together so that they will open and-close freely, and it is desirable that the construction of the pivotal connection be such that the parts lean be cheaply and rapidly stamped or punched out by dies, and conveniently and quickly assembled. To this end the stem 5' of the jaw b, is provided with an aperture at each side of the base of the stem a. The

stem a is made with a longitudinal stifi'en-' ing rib a the end of which, a, serves as an abutment with which the end of tongue 12 engages. The tongueb is integral with jaw b, and extends across the aperture b and cooperates with abutment a to prevent the dislodgment of the. stem a from the aperture b, and the shoulders a from the offsets 6, but at the same time one jaw is permitted to swing freely on the other.

The jaws are supported on a shank d which-is made with a pair of inturned uide d, bent up. 'frem a blank 0 the shape shown in Fig. 12. The stem (1' is slidablyconnected by said guide flanges d to'the shank d. Ears a. on the end 0 stem a serve as stops to engage flan es d and prevent the jaws from coming 0 from the shank d when the parts are extended as hereinafter described.

d is a headed stud fixed to the front side ofshank d and constitutes one of a pair of interlocking members for holding the jaws in closed position. The other interlocking member is carried by the jaw 12 and consists of the loop formed in b by the key-hole aperture b. When the jaws are in shortened' or contracted position on shank d, (see Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8) the larger part of aperture b will pass over the'head of stud d. Thereupon by sliding the jaws outward to their extended position on shank d the -narrower part of the loop formed by the smaller part of aperture 1) in stem 6, will engage the under side of the head of stud d (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 13) and lock the jaws in closed position. The shank b which constitute's one of said interlockin members is sufliciently resilient so as to e ect a yielding pressure between the jaws, to compensate for variations in the thickness of the fabric F (Fig-'4) clamped between the jaws. Projections b may be provided at each side of aperture b revent the accidental disengagement of the ock when the clasp is in closed position. The central channel or rib a, on stem 0., not only serves as a strengthening rib, but also as a filler tolevel 1(1)) between ide flanges (see especially Fig.- 13), so t at the flanges (1' will .not project unduly beyond the surface of the clasp as a whole, on the under side which is the side next to the body of the wearer.

The clasp is suspended from a buckle or similar fitting G, to which is secured a webbin or strap of elastic fabric or the like E, suc as is ordinarily used in hose supporters.

The buckle G is provided with a curved bar 'or bail g which is preferably rounded in cross section, and u on which is hung the shank d by means 0 a hook d at its upper end. A central resilient tongue d is struck to cooperate with stud d and the depressed space the hook opening, and adapted yieldingly to hold the bail gin place in the 'hook d.

Thehook d and bail g constitutea cast-ofi which may be readily assembled by merel inserting the bail 9 under the hook and pull ing the members in opposite directions until the bail g snaps past the yielding detent d. To separate the cast-off members, the bail 9 may be pushed straight out from under the hook past the detent d, or more easily, the buckle G may be swung to a position' at about right angles with the shank d, and

then given a part turn, or twist which will force the bail 9 over the yielding detent d. It will be observed that the hook d is large enough to afiord the bail g considerable play therein, and also to receive more than one bail 9 if it should be desired to attach the clasp to more then one suspension strap E. In use, the jaws are moved to shortened position on shank d and opened as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the ed e of the stockinrtgg or other article F to be c asped, is'inse between them preferably with the hem or edge a little beyond the grip ing surfaces of the jaws a and b, the jaws eing bowed or curved outwardly a little for this purplphse as best shown in Fig. 4 at b and a. e

jaws are then swung together and the larger part of aperture 6 passes over the head of stud d. The jaws are then ulled outward to extended position on she d to lock the end of the loop formed in stem 6 b hole 6, under the head of the stud d. e under side of the stud head may be beveled, as shown at d (Fi 4 and 6) to. forni a cam surface by whic the sides of the loop in stem 6 will be guidedinto locking ositio' The clasp maybe again unlocked and open to release the fabric, by sliding the jaws in the opposite direction, thereby disengaging that they pinch the hem or the like between I claim: Y ij 1. A clasp, comprisin a shank having a pair of inturned guide anges, a jaw mem ber having a stem slidably connected to said shank bysaid guide flan es, a second jaw pivoted to swing on said t named jaw a eaded stud on said shank, and a 100 on e swinging jaw formed with a ke -ho e aperture adapted to pass over the ead ofithestud when the jaws are moved to shortened position on the shank, and to engage said head and lock the jaws in closed position when the jaws are moved to extended position on said shank.

2. A clasp, comprising a shank having-a pair of inturned guide flanges, a jaw member having a stem slidably connected to said shank by said guide flan es, a second jaw pivoted to swing onsaid rst named jaw, a'

3. In a clasp, a supporting shank, a pair of guide flanges, a jaw member having a stem slidably connected to said shank by said guide flanges, a second jaw member pivoted to swing on said first named jaw member, and a headed projection on said shank, said second named jaw member being provided with arecess adapted to pass by the head of said projection when the jaws are moved to shortened position on the shank, and to engage said head and lock the jaws in closed position whenthe jaws are closed and moved to extended position on said shank.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts,

this 30th day of March 1914. JOHN F. DANIELS. Witnesses:

ROBERT CUSHMAN, FLORENCE A. COLLINS. 

